Trolley



Oct. 22, 1935. J FRANK ET AL 2,018,016

TROLLEY Filed May 25, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTORS.

ATTORNEY.

Oct. 22, 1935.

H. J. L. FRANK ET AL TROLLEY Filed May 25, 1934 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTORS.

BY m.

- A ORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TROLLEY Harrison J. L. Frank and Joseph A. Messing, Detroit, Mich, assignors to Bulldog Electric Products Company, Detroit,

tion of West Virginia Mich, a corpora- Application May 25, 1934, Serial No. 727,516

14 Claims.

This invention relates to trolleys designed for use in connection with the duct of a distributing system such as the one disclosed in application Serial No. 674,183, filed June 3, 1933.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel trolley which shall be of light weight and small size, and which will have a high degree of economy of manufacture and efilciency of operation.

Objects of the invention, which relate more distinctly to novel and important details of manufacture of the trolley shown and described herein, will be readily apparent upon reference to the following detailed descriptive matter relating to the appended drawings.

Referring to these drawings it will be seen that- Fig. 1 shows a trolley of the invention in end view, and in a bus duct, and in 011" position;

Fig. 1a is a side view of the trolley;

Figs. 2 and 2a are end and side section views of the trolley of Figs. 11a, shown with the cross bar removed;

Figs. 3 and 4 show another form of trolley in side and partial top plan view.

Figs. 1 to 211 In Figs. 1 to 2a, there is shown.- a trolley collector having a duct contained portion in the form of a blade supported on the upper end of a main casting C, and a downwardly extending portion which rides outside of the structure and depends from the lower end of the main casting.

The main casting C comprises a tube I having two oppositely projecting side portions 3 at its upper end. Receiving these portions 3 .and riveted thereto by rivets 4 are fiber or other insulation plates 5 between and connecting which are copper blocks 6. Rivets 611 secure the, plates 5 and the blocks 6 to one another, to form a blade or head which can be inserted into the duct. Ball bearing riding wheels I of the collector are journalled on the portions 3 of the tube I. Copper collector wheels 8 are disposed in copper brackets 9 which are supported in the blocks 6 in such a manner that they can be urged away from each other by the spring leaves In of electrically conducting material, secured to the brackets, these leaves being secured to depending portions II of the blocks 6 and being connected to the terminals of two of the three conductors I2 of the cable I3 which passes through the casting C, depending therefrom.

Fixedly attached to and disposed between the plates 5 and also between the blocks 6 is a bracket I4. Passing through horizontal portions of this bracket is a post l5 upon whose upper end is supported a collector wheel I6, and surrounding the post I5 is a coiled compression spring ll 5 whose lower end engages the lower horizontal portion of the bracket I4 and whose upper end engages a pin I8 secured to the post I5, the spring urging the collector I6 constantly upwardly. The lower end of the post I5 is formed as a binding 10 post l9 which connects the terminal of the third one of the conductors I2 of the cable I3 to the post I5.

An insulator 20 shields the sets of parts 6-!- 8-9-I0I I from the post I5 and from each 5 other.

To the lower part of the post I5, a pin 2| pivotally connects the upper ends of fingers 22 and these fingers are formed as integral parts of an insulator piece whose lower end is in the form 20 of a tube 23 through which pass the conductors I2. Side slots 24 of this tube receive lugs 25 formed on a U piece 26 whose vertical portions are received within slots 21 of the main casting tube I, the height of the U being apertured at 25 26a and being positioned under the lower end of the tube I, and the vertical parts of the U having shoulders 28 resting on shoulder lugs formed on the tube I. The U piece 26 is free to rideup and down in the tube I, with its lugs 25 riding in 0 the slots 24 for reasons to be described later.

Disposed within the tube I and within the U piece 26 is a two part cable clamp 29 whose parts are secured to each other and to the tube I by means of screws 30 passing through holes of side 35 portions 3|, the clamp anchoring the cable I3 with respect to the casting for strain relief. The lower end of theinain casting tube I is provided with the side portions 3I and these are provided at opposite edges with bowed fingers 32, fingers 4,0 of opposite sides being connected in pairs by cross bars 33 above which are slots 34 for purposes to be described.

The cable I3 passes downwardly out from the casting through a rigid tube 35 which at its lower 5 end is provided with a handle whereby the trolley may be manipulated by the user. Embracing the upper end of the tube 35 are diametrically opposed plates 36 provided with lugs'3l which ride in the slots 34 above the cross bars 33, of the 50 main casting. The lower ends of the plates 36 embracing the upper end of the tube 35 are clamped together to clamp the tube 35 thereto by screws 38. Above the open end of the tube 35 is a cross plate 39 which has lugs 40 passing through 55 slots 4| in the plates 36, and this cross plate has a central hole through which passes the cable. The cross plate 39 forms an abutment for a coiled compression spring 42 whose upper end abuts the bight of the U piece 26 which is slidably mounted with respect to the casting.

Surrounding the tubular part I of the casting 6 is a two part cross bar 43 which is restrained from moving downwardly by the U piece 26 which is spring urged upwardly by the spring 42. On the ends of cross bar are large rollers 44 cooperating with the bus duct in a manner to be described. The hub 45 of the cross bar is formed with anchoring notches 46 separated by humps 41 from notches 48, all for the reception of diametrically opposed lugs 49 integral with the tubular portion l of the casting C and projecting transversely therefrom.

The trolley here shown is of the intermediate entrance type, that is to say, it can be assembled with respect to a duct of the character shown at 58, and provided with bus bars 5| and rail portions 52 between which is a continuous slot havingedges 53, at any part of that duct.

In order to insert the trolley of Figs. 1-2a, into the duct, the operator first sees to it that the cross bar 43 is aligned with the blade or head formed-on the post I, (the position of Fig. 3), with the lugs 48 received in the riding notches 48 formed in the cross bar hub. Also, he first makes certain that the tube 35 is substantially in line with the casting.

With the parts in this position, the operator may insert the blade into the duct through the slot in the bottom wall thereof, moving the trolley as a whole upwardly until the rollers 44 on the cross bar engage the flange edges 53 of the slot. This engagement temporarily prevents further movement of the trolley part into the duct. Then the operator pushes up on the post I, against the influence of the spring", by exerting an upward push on the handle at the lower end of the tube 35, and causes the blade carrying post I to ride up with respect to the cross bar until lugs 49 are out of the notches 48 in the cross bar 'hub 45 and are clear of the humps 41 whereupon he gives the post a quarter turn so that the lugs 49 will register with the notches 46, and so that the blade, instead of being aligned with the slot in the bottom wall of the duct, will position itself across the duct with its collector wheels in engagement with the; bus bars of the,,duct. He then releases his'upward thrust on the post and permits it'to be moved down so that its lugs 49 seat within the notches 46, whereupon the trolley will be properly locked in place with respect to the duct.

With the trolley lockedin the duct, and with the tube 35 and cable l3 extending from the non-shiftable, though longitudinally movable blade, the operator can move the trolley along in the duct by pulling in any direction on the tube '35 or the, cable l3.

In order to remove the trolley from the duct, the operator causes the tube 35 to align with the main casting and then pushes up on the tube 35.

This raises lugs 49 out of notches 46 until lugs gether, but in alignment or in the position of ization of the conductors in cable i3 is created, 5

the duct is provided with a guard rail 54 on one side thereof, and the trolley is provided with lugs 55 bent out from the ends of the cross bar 43. It will be observed that when the trolley is inserted into the duct of Fig. 1, with the lugs 55 10 on the side of the duct opposite from the guard rail 54, the trolley can be inserted into the duct. However, if the trolley is turned around in the wrong direction, so that its lugs 55 are on the same side as the guard rail 54, the trolley cannot 5 be inserted into the duct and, the user thereof will know by this fact that he has tried to put the trolley into the duct from the wrong side. He will then turn the trolley around with respect to the duct and insert it in a proper direction. 20

Figs. 3 and 4 Figs. 3 and 4 show a modification of the trolley of Figs. 1 to 2a. In this modification the cross bar 43 is split into a central portion 43a 25 and end portions 43b, the portions having cooperating lugs 66 which are mutually connected by means of lugs 61 to provide a rocking connection between the portions 43b and portion 43a. The portions 43b are connected to each 30 other by coiled tension springs 68, which receive between them the main casting of the trolley.

It will be seen that if the trolley of Fig. 3 is inserted in a duct .near a duct splice, where the adjacent duct ends are somewhat misaligned 35 with respect to each other, the knee action connection between the rollers 44 and the post, created by the construction of Fig. 4, permits one roller 44 to engage a duct section before the other roller 44 engages, without requiring cocking of 40 the main casting, as would be the case, under such circumstances, it an unsplit cross bar trolley of the form of Fig. 1a wereused.

Now having described embodiments of the invention, reference will be had to the following 4 claims for a determination of the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. For use with a duct having a narrow elongated continuous slot, a trolley device comprising 50 a vertical member for riding within said duct and provided with a head narrow enough in one dimension to permit it to be inserted into the duct through the slot and wide enough in the other to straddle the slot, and having a portion 55 riding outside said duct and through said slot, and a horizontal member rotatably mounted on the. portion of saidvertical member that rides outside the duct to rotate about the vertical axis of said portion and having parts riding against the outside of the slotted wall of the duct.

2. For use with a duct having a narrow elongated continuous slot,'a trolley device comprising a vertical member for riding within said duct and provided with a head narrow enough in one 65 dimension to permit it to be inserted into the duct through the slot and wide enough in the other to straddle the slot, and having a portion riding outside said duct and through said slot, and a horizontal member rotatably mounted on the portion of said vertical member that rides outside the duct to rotate about the vertical axis of said portion and having parts riding against the outside of the slotted wall of the duct, and means on the aforementioned portion manipulable at a point remote from the horizontal member for rotating the vertical member on said vertical axis and latching it with respect to the horizontal member, when the latterabuts a duct, in either of two positions, with the headin linewith the slot or across the slot. 1

3. For use with a duct having a narrowelongated continuous slot, a trolley device comprising a vertical member for riding within said duct and provided with a head narrow enough in one dimension to permit it-to be inserted into the duct through the slot and wide enough in the other to straddle the slot, and having a portion riding outside said duct and through said slot, and a horizontal member rotatably mounted on the portion of said vertical member that rides outside the duct to rotate about the vertical axis of said portion and having parts riding against the outside of theslotted wall of the duct, and means urging the head towards the horizontal member to clamp the slotted wall of the duct between the head and the member. 4

4. For use with a duct having a narrow elongated continuous slot, a trolley device comprising avertical member for riding within said duct and provided with a head vnarrow enough in one dimension to permit it to be inserted into the duct through the slot and wide enough in the other to straddle the slot, and having a portion riding outside said duct and through said slot, and a horizontal member rotatably mounted on the portion of said vertical member that rides outside the duct to rotate about the vertical axis of said portion and having parts riding against the outside of the slotted wall of the duct, the horizontal member also being movable in a vertical path on the vertical member.

5. For use with a duct having a narrow elongated continuous slot, a trolley device comprising a vertical member for riding within said duct and provided with a head narrow enough in one dimension to permit it to be inserted into the duct through the slot and wide enough in the other to straddle the slot, and having a portion riding outside said duct and through said slot, and a horizontal member rotatably mounted on the portion of said vertical member that rides outside the duct to rotate about the vertical axis of said portion and having parts riding against the outside of the slotted wall of the duct, the horizontal member also being movable in a vertical path on the vertical member, and means urging the head towards the horizontal member to clamp the slotted wall of the duct between the head and the member.

6. For use with a duct having a narrow elongated continuous slot, a trolley device comprising a vertical member for riding within said duct and provided with a head narrow enough in one dimension to permit it to be inserted into the duct through the slot and wide enough in the other to straddle the slot, and having a portion riding outside said duct and through said slot, and a horizontal member rotatably mounted on the portion of said vertical member that rides outside the duct to rotate about the vertical axis of said portion and having parts riding against the outside of the slotted wall of the duct, and shiftable with respect to each other towards the slotted wall of the duct.

7. For use with a duct having a narrow elongated continuous slot, a trolley device comprising a vertical member for riding within said duct and provided with a head narrow enough in one dimension to permit it to be inserted into the duct through the slot and wide enough in the other to straddle the slot and having a portionriding outside said duct and through said slot, anda horizontal member rotatablymounted' on the por- 5 tion of said vertical member that rldes outside the duct to rotate about thevertic'al'axis of said portion and having parts riding against the outside of the slotted wall of the duct, andmounted to be relatively movablevertically with'respect tot the major portions or the horizontal member.

8. For use with a duct having a narrow 'elongated continuous slot, a trolley device comprising a vertical member for riding within said duct and provided with a head narrow enough in one 16 dimension to permitit to be inserted into the duct through the slot and wide enough in the other to straddle theslot, and havinga portion'riding outside said duct and through said slot, and a horizontal member rotatably mounted on the 20 portion of saidvertical memberthat rides outside the duct to rotate aboutthe vertical axis of' said portion and having parts riding against theoutside of the slotted wall 'of the duct, means on the aforementioned portion manipulable at a point remote from the horizontal .member for rotating,

the vertical member on said vertical axis and latching it with respect to the horizontal member, when the latter abuts a duct, in either of two positions, with the head inline with the slot or across the slot, and means urging the head towards the horizontal member to clamp the slotted lwall of the duct between the head and the mem 9. For use with a duct having a narrow elongated continuous slot, a trolley device comprising a vertical member for riding within said duct and provided with a head narrow enough in one dimension to permit it to be inserted into the duct through the slot and wide enough in the other 40 to straddle the slot, and having a portion riding outside said duct and through said slot, and a horizontal member rotatably mounted on the portion of said vertical member that rides outside the duct to rotate about the vertical axis of said portion and having parts riding against the outside of the slotted wall of the duct, and within and against the edges of the slot.

10. For use with a duct having a narrow elongated continuous slot, a trolley device comprising a vertical member for riding within said duct and provided with a head narrow enough in one dimension to permit it to be inserted into the duct through the slot and wide enough in the other to straddle the slot, and having a portion riding outside said duct and through said slot, and a horizontal member rotatably mounted on the portion of said vertical member that rides outside the duct to rotate about the vertical axis of said portion and having parts riding against the 00 outside of the slotted wall of the duct, means on the duct and trolley cooperating to prevent insertion of the trolley in the duct in any but one way, and means on the vertical and horizontal members preventing the vertical member from being rotated with respect to the horizontal member, when the head is not straddling the slot, in any but one direction.

11. A construction of the character described in claim 1 wherein the parts also ride in and against edges of the duct slot.

'12. A construction of the character described in claim 1 wherein the parts also ride in and against edges of the duct slot and thus limit relathe width 01' the slot, comprising the parts aiorementioned. and means having a portion insertable into the duct through the slot and operably conneoted to the parts and manipulable for moving thepartsinone directionsothattheyareina position to engage the duct surfaces aforementioned or for moving the parts in a difierent direction so that they are ina position to enable them to be inserted into the duct through the slot, the means having a portion which remains outside of the duct when the first mentioned portion is inserted into the duct whereby manipulation of the first mentioned portion may be eii'ected from outside the duct, and means transversely dispoud with respect to the first mentioned means and designed to remain outside of the duct at all times, and supported and iournalled on the first mentioned means, the second mentioned means having portions engaging the duct and the first mentioned means and thus restraining the collector as a whole from rotating with respect to the duct.

14'. A detachable collector for use with tubular duct, one oi. whose walls is provided with anarrow slot on opposite sides of which are laterally spaced bus bars. to be engaged by engaging contacts of the collector, the spacing of the bus bars exceeding the width oi the slot, comprising the contacts aforementioned, and means having .:a. portion insertable into the duct through the slot and operably connected to the contacts and manipulable for moving the contacts in one direction so that they are in a position to engage the bus bars or for moving the contacts in a different direction so that they are in a position to enable them to be'inserted into the duct through the slot, the means having aportion which remains outside of the duct when the first mentioned portion is inserted into the duct where by manipulation of the first mentioned portion' may be eilected from outside the duct, and means transversely disposed with respect to the first 20 mentioned means and designed to remain outside oi. the duct at all times. and supported and Jour- .nalled on the first mentioned means, the second mentioned means having portions engaging the duct and the first mentioned means and thus 25 

